Time-management tips for the real world

Some time-management tips seem designed to help you fantasize about
an alternate reality rather than to get things done in this one. From
shaving a few seconds off your morning coffee run to scheduling your
time so aggressively that your day falls apart if you stop to sneeze,
the advice can be far removed from the unpredictable world most of us
live and work in.

Instead of aiming to transform yourself into a time-management
machine who never wastes a nanosecond, try these five humble but
effective tips for making better use of your time.

1. Jump the gunThe desire for better time
management is often fueled by anxiety about falling behind. Nothing can
ease your mind about the day ahead more effectively than getting a head
start on it.

Setting aside a half hour to an hour of uninterrupted
time each day -- either before or after you're available to others --
can dramatically lighten your worries. Use this period to get started on
the biggest item on your agenda or to knock out a small but pesky task
that's been hanging over your head.

2. Ditch the extensive to-do listAn ambitious, elaborate to-do list can give you a fleeting sense of accomplishment: "Look at all the stuff I'll get done!"

Then, the day starts. The first task takes longer than expected, an
urgent new project arises and you're asked to fill in on a conference
call for a colleague who's out sick. At the end of the day, you've
barely dented your list, so you feel like you've failed and can't
appreciate what you did accomplish.

A shorter, simpler list that leaves room for inevitable twists and
turns can be more effective. Break down larger assignments and be
specific about the actions you can take. The more narrowly defined an
action is, the less daunting it will seem. Also keep in mind that
leaving an item off your list -- even if it's just temporarily --
doesn't mean it won't get done.

3. Expect interruptionsSome of the most
attractive time-management advice conveniently overlooks a central fact
about typical workdays: They tend to involve other people. Sometimes a
lot of them, and not always the ones we expect.

When your boss or a colleague -- or your child's day care manager,
for that matter -- needs your input, you can't exactly say that you're
busy adhering to your strict new schedule. Approaching your day with
rigid expectations about how it will unfold is one common barrier to
maximizing your productivity and becoming a great team member.

At the same time, be careful not to create interruptions for
yourself. Does that email really require an immediate response? One of
the simplest and best ways to manage your time better is to set aside
periods in which you check your email rather than distracting yourself
with them throughout the day. In most cases, business etiquette demands a
response within 24 hours, not an instantaneous reply.

4. Keep tools simpleA million tools exist to
help you manage your time. No doubt many of them can be extremely
helpful. But they can also work against you if taken to the extreme.
Constantly checking and updating multiple calendars, lists and apps can
take more time than the task you're trying to track.

Going overboard with these tools can also heighten a sense of being
surrounded by unfinished work. Minimize the methods you use. For
example, keep all your to-do items in one place, whether that's an
online calendar or a sticky note on your desk.

5. Catch your breathJamming your day with
wall-to-wall tasks and meetings may seem like the most responsible,
productive approach to scheduling. But if you're distracted or tired
during those activities, you'll likely create more work for yourself
down the line. A hasty decision made during a hectic, exhausting day,
for instance, can necessitate weeks of correction or rework.

Building breaks into your day -- whether or not they can happen at
predictable times -- is one of the best things you can do to protect
your long-term productivity. When you take a walk or just a trip to the
break room, you're not shirking your responsibilities. You're protecting
your ability to execute them.

Time management is a highly individual matter; no single method works
well for everyone. Even a system that makes perfect sense to you
intellectually might not turn out to be the most effective one in
practical terms. Trust your experiences, not your expectations.

After a couple of weeks of trying a new approach, do you feel better
about your workload? Are you getting more things done, and done well? If
not, try something else. If you focus on simple, sustainable habits
rather than unrealistic goals, you're bound to find yourself taking
better care of your time in no time.